Overtightening Meter Terminals

[Andy78]

I always wrap the conductors and they rarely need retightening as conductors don't shift.View attachment 49740

That's not gonna fit in with the targets man, keep up !

 

[Pete999]

That's not gonna fit in with the targets man, keep up !

WGAM's Mate it's correct procedure

 

[Simon47]

I always wrap the conductors and they rarely need retightening as conductors don't shift.

Would the modern equivalent be using bootlace ferrules ?

I've been on the other side of the "is it tight" problem. Was doing some work in a church and the meter fitter has obviously had the strength of a weak spider - almost every terminal was loose. I had someone in from the DNO for other reasons, and while he was sorting out the neutral block (removing a redundant neutral cable, and fixing the "strand missed the hole" problem with the neutral tail from the meter) he ... found the other end of the neutral tail seemed loose.
Opened up the meter to check (if he hadn't noticed it, I was going to ask) and all six tails were loose - and the neutral had come out
As best I can tell from the meter change ticket, it was done about 9 years ago by BG (or someone working for them).

 

[Wilko]

Hi - apologies if I’m repeating earlier posts (lazy Saturday afternoon) but each manufacturer will have a torque setting. As an example, this one is 2.8 Nm, on page 20 of the instructions in the link.

https://www.rayleigh.com/media/uploads/A100C_Operating_Instructions.pdf

 

[stevels4]

Would the modern equivalent be using bootlace ferrules ?

I've been on the other side of the "is it tight" problem. Was doing some work in a church and the meter fitter has obviously had the strength of a weak spider - almost every terminal was loose. I had someone in from the DNO for other reasons, and while he was sorting out the neutral block (removing a redundant neutral cable, and fixing the "strand missed the hole" problem with the neutral tail from the meter) he ... found the other end of the neutral tail seemed loose.
Opened up the meter to check (if he hadn't noticed it, I was going to ask) and all six tails were loose - and the neutral had come out
As best I can tell from the meter change ticket, it was done about 9 years ago by BG (or someone working for them).

“all six tails were loose” what type of meter was that as they are generally 4 or 5 on SP or 8 on 3P

 

[DefyG]

Recently did a consumer unit that specified 2.4Nm for the main switch terminals which were 25sq.
Think it would be worth investing in a torque set 'for your own benefit' if unsure how tight the meter terminals should be, but as a guide 2.4Nm!

 

[DefyG]

Wouldn’t know , I use my impact driver these days ...

Have you never had to replace a breaker or carry out an EICR where 'someone' (Language is stronger on-site!) has used an impact drill to tighten the terminals and you cant get undone?

 

[Pete999]

Have you never had to replace a breaker or carry out an EICR where 'someone' (Language is stronger on-site!) has used an impact drill to tighten the terminals and you cant get undone?

An impact driver to tighten cable terminations is nothing short of Butchery, using this type of driver for terminating is all down to get it done, get paid and FTO.

 

[Charlie_]

I used to enjoy splitting the earth wire round a bolt and then wrapping the spare conductor round the base

 

[Zerax]

Sometimes if you tighten it and then give it good wiggle you'll find it can be tightened a bit further because the strands have moved

But one man's "good wiggle" is not always the same as another man's "good wiggle"...

 

[Simon47]

“all six tails were loose” what type of meter was that as they are generally 4 or 5 on SP or 8 on 3P

It is a 3ph meter on a 1ph supply. I have no idea why he didn't use a Henley block on the live side - but he used two phases on the meter and fitted two isolators to feed the 4 fuseboards

 

[Pete999]

Wouldn’t know , I use my impact driver these days ...

Then you ought to be ashamed of yourself DD

 

[Zerax]

7 strand. We aren’t aloud allowed to put 19 strand into a meter. Have to be blocked or replaced if we find those.

Corrected that for you.

 

[Pete999]

I used to enjoy splitting the earth wire round a bolt and then wrapping the spare conductor round the base

Spare conductor?????????????

 

[Dustydazzler]

I don’t actually use an impact driver for terminations

I just use a regular screw driver

But I have witnessed some of the ‘young breed’ use impacts on consumer units